Boo (boo)

And it was going so well...

But let's start from the beginning.

Mom and Dad had different ideas about what would be proper attire for a Miss Viola Swamp costume. So Mom got some stuff, including "an ugly black dress," and then Dad got his own idea of "an ugly black dress." Levynn wore Dad's version to school in the morning and wore Mom's version, pictured above, to the library and to trick-or-treat in the evening.

For the uninitiated, Viola Swamp is the mean substitute teacher in the Miss Nelson children's books (and actually is just Miss Nelson in disguise). Levynn and her classmates were asked to wear their Halloween costumes to school today, and our cool little gal was the only one dressed as a storybook character and the only girl not all dolled up. There were two Spidermans, a knight, a Little Mermaid, a Cinderella, a Princess Fiona (from the "Shrek" movies) and a generic "pink princess." Mom and Dad were very proud.

Louisville's main library branch had a big Halloween program for kids early this evening, and we went there to get some treats and see a little storytime. Oh, and we wanted to see this, too:


Yes, Levynn's famous "Library Champion" photo is hanging in the library's main hallway with similar pictures from around town. We've been told several times that it was there, but we hadn't been downtown to see it until now. And it was amazing how many library staffers recognized her as she passed through. For instance, as we walked slowly down the hall, looking for Levynn's picture, a woman asked, "Do you know where hers is?" And she pointed to it immediately, without even looking for it herself. Then, as we got ready to take this picture, the library's photographer approached us and asked if we knew Levynn's original photo had been the first one put on the library's Web site. Well, of course we knew. But how did he know? Then he proceeded to take more shots of Levynn!

Once we were in the car, Levynn announced that she was all done with Halloween. But after eating some candy on the ride home and eating some Cheerios out of a cup while handing out goodies to the kids who came to our door for a little while, Lev was ready to hit the streets. She went out with Mom while Dad manned the door. Then Mom and Dad switched places, and Dad took her to see the neighbors. On the way home, we got a little carried away in the dark - and we both tripped on an uneven spot in the sidewalk that we knew was there but couldn't see. Poor Lev tore a hole in her pants and earned her truest badge of childhood honor yet.

As Viola Swamp would say, "I am not amused."

And that takes you back to the top.